S.E. Cahyaningrum, F.I. Muhaimin, R.A. Lusiana, A.P. Wardani, F.F.A. Marchanti, A.P. Rahmadhani, M.R.A. Firmansyah, E.R. Anggraeni, C.N. Maulidiyah, N.S. Hakim
A chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) based slow-release fertiliser membrane system was developed to control sustainable nutrient delivery in a more environmentally friendly manner. The membranes were synthesised via blending with varying PVA compositions to modulate the polymer network structure and transport characteristics. Physical and morphological characterisations were conducted using mass and thickness measurements, swelling and porosity tests, as well as FTIR and SEM analysis. Nutrient release analysis focused on Nitrogen, quantified using the Ehrlich reagent method via UV-Vis spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 403 nm. The results indicated that increasing PVA concentration led to increased membrane porosity and swelling degree. The release kinetics were best described by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, suggesting a mechanism governed by both diffusion and polymer relaxation. The C1:P1 composition exhibited the highest model fit with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9809, followed by C1:P2 (0.9646) and C1:P3 (0.8579). This study suggests that the lower PVA ratio (C1:P1) offers the most predictable kinetic control for sustainable agricultural applications. © 2026, Rasayan Journal of Chemistry, c/o Dr. Pratima Sharma. All rights reserved.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, 60231, Indonesia; Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, 60231, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, 50275, Indonesia
